Have
you ever gotten a verbal promise from an employer, then later on wished
you had gotten it in writing? Be careful when saying yes to offers
that involve future pay increases that aren't in writing.

Is
it time to ask again for my raise?

Q.
I've been in this job for five months. I started out as a data entry
clerk and was promoted to project manager in the first six weeks.
At the time, I was promised a salary increase after a trial period
of two months. But it hasn't happened yet. I was also supposed to
get a three-month review, should I ask for that also? I love my
job and love to come to work every day.

A.
First of all, a project manager is a very general job title, so
ask your manager to come up with a more definitive title.

I would
strongly urge you to send an email to your manager reminding him
or her about the agreement to adjust your salary. Ask the manager
when you should expect to see the increase in your paycheck.

I would
also forward the email to the HR department. Ask them about your
company's process for promotional increases, how the long it takes,
and when you should receive your increase in your paycheck.

Verbal
agreements are always risky, not because you shouldn't trust your
manager, but because people can get so busy that they forget what
they promise people. Having it in writing helps to jog people's
memories.

Once
you have received your monetary increase, take the same approach
to asking for your performance review. Find out what the process
is, and how your evaluation will be included during your merit increase.
During your performance evaluation, look for other ways to increase
your opportunities in the company. What are your manager's expectations
of your performance, and what skill sets should you enhance to become
a more valuable asset to the company?